---
title: Preparing external servers
description: After configuring the source and destination endpoints, PingDataSync prompts you to prepare each external server. Perform the following steps:
component: pingdirectory
version: 11.0
page_id: pingdirectory:pingdatasync_server_administration_guide:pd_sync_prepare_external_servers
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/11.0/pingdatasync_server_administration_guide/pd_sync_prepare_external_servers.html
revdate: September 13, 2023
section_ids:
  steps: Steps
---

# Preparing external servers

After configuring the source and destination endpoints, PingDataSync prompts you to prepare each external server. Perform the following steps:

## Steps

1. You must trust the certificate presented to the server and then test the connection.

   |   |                                                                                                                    |
   | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
   |   | You can also complete this step after configuring the sync pipes by running the `prepare-endpoint-server` command. |

2. Configuring this server for synchronization requires admin access. Enter the distinguished name (DN) *(tooltip: \<div class="paragraph">
   \<p>A name uniquely identifying an object within the hierarchy of a directory tree.\</p>
   \</div>)* and password of an account capable of administrating the external directory server.

3. To limit how long the PingDataSync server can be offline, enter the maximum age of changelog entries. Format the value as `<number><time-unit>`, using time units of `h`, `d`, or `w` to represent hours, days, or weeks, respectively. For example, `8h` represents eight hours.

   |   |                                                                                                                                      |
   | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
   |   | For high-modification environments, set a smaller value to limit how many changes are stored and prevent excessive changelog growth. |

4. To prepare another server in the topology, follow the prompts. You can reuse the admin credentials from Step 2 to access additional servers.

5. Repeat these steps for every configured server in the synchronization system.